The Dream Says Black Singers Can’t Do Soul Anymore

March 19th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Source: Global 14

Now last time The Dream spoke out about singers, ya’ll weren’t feeling his claim that R&B dudes have been trying to steal his sound, but this time he may actually have a point about music today.

In an interview with the Guardian in the UK, he spoke about the transfer of soul from the R&B genre to artists who you would expect to be more pop in the US, and how black artists have in turn adopted a more pop sound. He spoke on the genre he considers himself to be a part of, saying:

“It’s called rhythm and blues; they just took the blues out of it for so long.

“What’s crazy is that blacks can’t do soul records any more,” he said. “We love Adele singing it, but Beyoncé singing it? No, the tempo’s too slow, gimme the club hit. Now the blacks in America are responsible for the pop records, and everybody else is singing soulful records. It’s weird to me. We’re pigeonholed over there.”

On this, The Dream is absolutely right. This is an issue we talk about a lot, asking what is it that’s so unique about the Adeles, the Amy Winehouses, and the Duffys—basically soulful white singers from the UK that make a killing in the US—is it just that their sound is unexpected based on their looks and consumers go crazy over it? Is that what black artists are trying to do now by taking over the pop scene?

A friend just texted me this weekend asking me what was the deal with Chris Brown’s CD, saying he’s not R&B anymore, he’s strictly pop. That explained my confusion with his Grammy performance this year. But even Usher dabbled with the pop sound a bit on his last album, and no one would argue against the charge that Rihanna and Beyonce are extra heavy on the pop and light on the soul. The question is, is that the type of music these singers want to do or do they make this type of music because it’s the only music they can sell? There are obviously several black entertainers who have a soulful sound, but they’re not the ones getting the mainstream shine.

What do you think? Is it impossible for soulful black artists to have mainstream success in the US?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

Tags:

, , , , , , ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

← Older Comments
  • Truth Hurts

    The Dream….your music is not considered ‘soul’ either……most of your music is the same out in the circuit right now….all about booty…….that is why I appreciate old school channels that can take me back and keep me there because I get tired of the same message you and other artists send out.

  • 2BStrong

    I think the difference in R&B an Pop music is simple… like twitter topics POP music is #trending where as R&B and Neo-Soul musicians make music that is TIMELESS. Trending is only for the moment.. The only “Pop” artists that I know who’s music is actually timeless (& it’s debatable to some) is Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson.. that’s because the music was brilliant. and I use quotation marks when I speak about Whitney’s music because why that is what they want to categorize her music as, she was very much just as soulful, as was Michael. There’s no gray area allowed in today’s music when dealing with consumers.. nowadays they either want you totally POP or totally R&B. And I think soul ballads last over in the UK because the styles over there are more classic. They can appreciate the ups and downs in the R&B music more where as the culture of music here in the US has become sex based and the art to it is lost. They don’t use metaphors they say exactly what they want you to do. It’s lost its class in a way. JUST MY OPINION

  • I CAN’T

    Umm…  Dwele, Eric Roberson, Raheem Devaughn, Musiq, Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, Amel Larrieux, El Renee, Vivian Green, Heather Headley, Laura Izibor, Ledesi and many MANY MANY more like them.  He’s just listening to the wrong radio stations.  You know.. the ones that spin the same cotdam 20 – 25 songs all darn day.  Just sayin.

  • Justpre

    Me personally, I like an artist with soul. I rarely listen to the radio lately because I am tired of being screamed at when I get into my car. I do appreciate a variety of music but would rather continue to hear that voice that made me fall in love with your music in the first place. Most times when an artist makes a drastic change to keep up with the money, I move on. It’s sort of a turn off. Just my opinion.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/derique.marie Derique Fancy Marie

    I do agree with Dream but there are plenty of artist doing soul but we have other artist who over power them with their looks. I think Elle Varner is a great soul singer, Stacy Barthe,  Chrisette Michele. But Who gets more play on the radio? thats what it all boils down to honestly. So a lot of these “soul” artist begin to do what is selling to make a quick buck instead of staying true to the music. I have no problem with an artist wanting to be versatile and exploring different types of sounds. That doesn’t mean completely change your originality for a record label. In my eyes, Beyonce’s “4″ was the best soulful album she came out with.

  • FromUR2UB

    His statement may have been inspired by one of his own performances.  This guy can’t sing.

  • Yazzman13

    Have you not heard of John Legend?

  • LaLaLaMeansILoveYou

    As someone already mentioned, the English have always been more “in tune” with soulful music than we have, and most of the white soul artists being mentioned are from across the pond (Amy Whinehouse, Adele, Joss Stone)…even back in the day, which IMO is the reason that the BLACK 60′s/70′s Motown and other soul acts were and still are such a HUGE draw.

    They can appreciate real, authentic SOUL over there in a way that unfortunately America never will.

  • ieshapatterson

     this is SOMEWHAT true in the mainstream industry,but the truth is there are A LOT of underground artist,who ARE black and who sing soul.but there not getting the fame they deserve because they don’t sing the way the mainstream world,says they should sing. 

  • Monique

    Funny my roommates and I just had the same conversation about how soul and r&b are dying. They call me “oldie” because i really do not like listening to pop, I love the sweet mellow hymns of soul and blues. He makes a great point, my generations view listening to soul and R&B as lame, yest when Adel does it its amazing….?? (Not hating on Adel, she’s an amazing singer)

← Older Comments
Get the MadameNoire
Newsletter The best stories sent right to your inbox!
close [x]